Karyn Blanco, better known as Mercedeze, was one of the participants who played a more strategic version of the game.
The Bronx-native was eliminated halfway through the show because the other contestants accused her of catfishing. Indeed, Blanco pretended to be a woman named Mercedez, who didn't look like her at all. Though she played a good game, The Circle cast was quick to realize the catfish. After leaving the show, Blanco has been busy with several artistic projects including one that will be showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Art Long Island. As a queer woman of color, Blanco posed for a photo/video exhibition titled "Understanding Me," which explored "the LGBTQIA+ community and our journey with gender and pronouns."
In a June 2020 Instagram photo, Blanco is seen hanging out with fellow cast member Antonio DePina, who left the game in Episode 4. He was also the person to discover Blanco's true identity – after having a crush on her catfish persona.
DePina was a professional basketball player in Europe and now he's ready to launch his own basketball league in Cape Verde called Praia League (via Refinery29). "Everyone takes from Africa. I've seen African players have to go everywhere but Africa to make their basketball dreams come true," he says an Instagram post talking about his new league. "Even Blacks in America, come play in Africa. I'm creating a league for us."
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